Former Delran EMT chief to get jail tme for fraud, records tampering

Tuesday

Donald Horner, 67, has admitted to falsifying patient care reports and using the fake records to fraudulently bill insurance providers.

MOUNT HOLLY — A former Delran Emergency Squad chief is to serve nearly one year in jail after pleading guilty Monday to insurance fraud and tampering with public records.

As part of a plea deal, Donald Horner, 67, admitted to falsifying patient care reports and using the fake records to fraudulently bill insurance providers. He is to serve 364 days in the Burlington County Jail, according to the agreement with the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office.

Last year, after receiving tips about the fraud, investigators with the New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Emergency Management, began looking into Horner.

As a result of the investigation, the state suspended the squad’s license. Horner resigned a short time later.

Further investigation revealed Horner’s emergency medical technician certification expired at the end of 2016, but the chief continued to serve as an EMT crew member.

He was found to have altered 27 reports to conceal that fact, which would have disallowed the squad from billing for those services, according to the prosecutor's office.

Eleven of the altered reports were submitted to insurance companies for a payout of about $4,300, according to law enforcement.

In October, Horner was arrested and charged with a multitude of crimes, including insurance fraud, computer criminal activity, tampering with witnesses, terroristic threats, theft, hindering apprehension, alteration of medical records, tampering with records and obstructing the administration of the law.

As part of the negotiated plea, Horner also must make restitution, pay a $1,300 fee, perform 200 hours of community service and forfeit his EMT certification for life. Horner's sentencing is set for June 24.

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